Compare the2025 Subaru OutbackVS 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid

The Outback has standard Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats, which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats system allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Santa Fe Hybrid doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Outback. But it costs extra on the Santa Fe Hybrid.

Both the Outback and the Santa Fe Hybrid have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Hyundai vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Subaru 5 places higher in reliability than Hyundai.

The Outback XT/Wilderness’ standard 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder produces 29 more horsepower (260 vs. 231) and 6 lbs.-ft. more torque (277 vs. 271) than the Santa Fe Hybrid’s 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the Subaru Outback is faster than the Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid:

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the Outback lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability (That’s why Porsche uses boxer engines.). The Santa Fe Hybrid doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

Both the Outback and Santa Fe Hybrid have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. The Outback has a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily.

The Outback has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Santa Fe Hybrid doesn’t offer a CVT.

The Outback’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Santa Fe Hybrid are solid, not vented.

The Outback Wilderness/Onyx XT has a standard full size spare tire so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare isn’t available on the Santa Fe Hybrid; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

The Outback Wilderness executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.5 seconds quicker than the Santa Fe Calligraphy Hybrid AWD (27.2 seconds @ .63 average G’s vs. 28.7 seconds @ .57 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Outback’s turning circle is 1.8 feet tighter than the Santa Fe Hybrid’s (36.1 feet vs. 37.9 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Outback has a 1.7 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Santa Fe Hybrid (8.7 vs. 7 inches), allowing the Outback to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Outback Wilderness’ minimum ground clearance is 2.5 inches higher than on the Santa Fe Hybrid (9.5 vs. 7 inches).

The Subaru Outback may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 650 to 800 pounds less than the Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid.

The Outback has a much larger cargo volume than the Santa Fe Hybrid with its rear seat up (32.6 vs. 14.6 cubic feet).

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Outback. The Santa Fe Hybrid doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The Outback’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Santa Fe Hybrid’s (2700 vs. 2000 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid is only 2000 pounds. The Outback offers up to a 3500 lbs. towing capacity.

The engine in the Outback is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Santa Fe Hybrid. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Subaru service is better than Hyundai. J.D. Power ranks Subaru 7th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 58% lower rating, Hyundai is ranked 29th.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Outback’s available exterior PIN entry system (not available on Outback Base). The Santa Fe Hybrid doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its Blue Link can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Outback’s headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Santa Fe Hybrid’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Outback has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Santa Fe Hybrid doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The Outback’s optional rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Santa Fe Hybrid offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Subaru Outback, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Subaru Outback outsold the Hyundai Santa Fe by 23% during 2023.